NBA’s obsession with Spurs’ guard trio proves they live rent-free in trade talks

Even as the NBA offseason winds down and training camp is right around the corner, the San Antonio Spurs still find themselves in trade rumors. Those are often centered around De'Aaron Fox, much more so after the Spurs found out they'd be picking second and drafting Dylan Harper.

It's true that having Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper on the same roster with little shooting is a questionable fit. However, the Spurs may not have to make a significant decision regarding those three players for the next three seasons.

One reason being that Castle still has three years remaining on his rookie deal, while Harper has four. Those cheap contracts ironically combine to offset Fox's max extension, allowing the Spurs to keep him for longer.

The Spurs hold all the cards in a big potential De'Aaron Fox trade

Trading Fox likely isn't in the team's plans for the foreseeable future, and a lot would have to happen before it gets to that point. Both Castle and Harper would have to make an all-star in his prime expendable, and that's a high bar to clear.

It's possible that one does, but both doing so would be almost too good to be true. There are also varying levels of success for both players. Harper could look like a burgeoning superstar while Castle settles into being an above-average starter.

In that case, Castle may not get the max, which might make it easier to keep all three players. That assumes all three players can play together, and that would require two of them to be able to shoot.

The Spurs may have to decide among two of Fox, Castle, and Harper

Fox has a long enough track record to show it's probably not him. He's averaged 5.1 3-point attempts per game over his career but is only a career 33% 3-point shooter—not disastrously bad but not incredible either.

Harper showed himself to be a respectable spot-up shooter and an awful 3-point shooter off-the-dribble at Rutgers. Meanwhile, Castle had encouraging shooting stretches during his rookie season despite not shooting above 30% from outside.

Castle's big enough and versatile enough to potentially be a three and has more than enough ball-handling chops to be a second or third playmaker. If he can be a respectable shooter, then it would make a guard trio much more viable.

Before that happens, the Spurs would have to answer several questions. One being whether Jeremy Sochan could play alongside those players. Another being if Carter Bryant can emerge as a key player and can play some at the four.

The Spurs could be bailed out from having to trade Fox

Assuming the trio and either Sochan or Bryant work out, paying Fox, Harper, and Castle still might not be possible due to the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The best-case scenario is that the league and the NBA Player's Association rework the CBA when it expires in 2030. Fortunately, it can be renegotiated in the summer of 2029. That would coincide with the end of Harper's rookie deal but before the start of a possible rookie max contract.

Hopefully both the NBA and NBAPA come to their senses and work out a far better CBA that would be advantageous to the Spurs. Barring that, Fox may be the most likely player to be moved. If that ends up being the case, it would probably be in the summer of 2028, when he has two years remaining on his contract and will be just 30.

With any luck, he'll still be playing at a high level and will give the Spurs several great seasons before possibly being traded for rotation players and picks. Even so, it's clear San Antonio is still in the driver’s seat for any potential deals.